The Lakers didn't have to win Game 2... but probably best to not to find out what it would mean to go down 0-2. They came out hot in the first quarter, playing great defense and pushing pace to build a big lead.Houston erased all of it with a third quarter blitz, but in the fourth L.A. tightened up the defense and gave the Lakers a decent bit of breathing room over the final few minutes of the fourth.It was fascinating game, and we break it down, including:The most impactful game Rajon Rondo has played with the Lakers... by a lot.Going small, but not totally by design.The Lakers flipping the points-off-turnover battle, and why they need to be moving with pace and urgency all the time, even if it's not in the fast break.Why L.A.'s defense should be the thing that ultimately separates them in the series.REMINDER! Tuesday 9.8.20 marks the return of the Late Night Happy Hour! 10 pm PT on our Periscope/Twitter feeds, as well as Facebook and YouTube.

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